ongoing problems

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Posted on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 1:13am

hilomaria

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03/15/2010

We are happy to be new members and have a place to vent and ask for ideas on a couple of ongoing problems .

How do you get guests to stop using the bed or desk for a place to put their dirty luggage to unpack or pack? Yes, we provide luggage racks but

continue to find black streaks on our nice white duvet covers or most recently, a long deep scratch on the desk.

Secondly, we provide a stain cloth for spills ,make up etc but constantly find stains on our white towels. It can be wine,coffee, blood,pizza grease, etc. If its not caught immediately it sets in no time.

Appreciate any ideas.

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This comment (67465) was in reply to the Original Topic on Sat, 03/20/2010 - 11:12am

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ginocat

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Many hotels have 1/2 blankets or throws at the bottom of the bed and especially with the new all white bed linen look. If we don't want things damaged then we have to figure out a way to stop the damage. If you do put something on the bed for suitcases then tell the guests that's why it's there. I don't see a problem with it.

Personally I wouldn't put a white cover/duvet/whatever on a bed because of the potential damage. I try to minimize problems and white is a problem and white bed covers are problem generators in my mind.

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This comment (67477) was in reply to comment 67465 on Sat, 03/20/2010 - 12:25pm

#2 TOP

muirford

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ginocat wrote:

Many hotels have 1/2 blankets or throws at the bottom of the bed and especially with the new all white bed linen look.

Every hotel we stayed at on our recent trip (5 of them) had those silly, useless throws at the bottom the bed. They're all slippery fabric so they fall off as soon as you touch them and they aren't useful for anything other than decoration. I just couldn't see the point.

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Jeanne

This comment (67586) was in reply to comment 67477 on Sun, 03/21/2010 - 3:20pm

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Samster

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Our 4 Star Hilton in England last Fall had the throw at the bottom and it was a velour type material (burgundy) and was a lint catcher. We kept taking it off, folding it up, & putting it on the chair and housekeeping would put it back on when they made up the room. It was a bad choice of fabric for sure.

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This comment (67479) was in reply to comment 67477 on Sat, 03/20/2010 - 12:27pm

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Innkeeper To Go

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Folks really have forgotten the whole point of those bedscarves in the race to outdesign the next guy.

As ginocat wrote, they're really useful in protecting the lovely white duvet covers. But not if they're slippery fabric! That's just silly.

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This comment (67485) was in reply to comment 67479 on Sat, 03/20/2010 - 1:09pm

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Morticia

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I always folded the duvets at the bottom of the bed and most of them are white. Arrrgh. Then, went away and found the way someone else did it was to fold the quilt at the bottom of the bed and lay the duvet out completely. Easy peasy to wash the quilt! It's worked like a charm.

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This comment (67582) was in reply to comment 67485 on Sun, 03/21/2010 - 3:12pm

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happyjacks

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I do the duvet folded at the end of the bed because it's so much easier to wash the duvet cover than the comforter or quilt. I have spare duvet covers so I don't have to worry about timing when doing a flip. And spare duvet covers take up much less storage space than spare comforters or quilts.

This comment (67584) was in reply to comment 67582 on Sun, 03/21/2010 - 3:14pm

#7 TOP

Morticia

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Where do you get duvet covers? I find them so expensive and so cheaply made. I could make my own but I haven't found any really pretty sheets that I like. Altho, I have recently found quilt shops that have 108" bolts of fabric.

This comment (67589) was in reply to comment 67584 on Sun, 03/21/2010 - 3:29pm

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happyjacks

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I buy them on sale wherever I see them... Loblaws (President's Choice), Sprawlmart, Zellers, HomeSense, Ikea. Some are 100% cotton and I have to get them straight from the dryer onto the duvets or they wrinkle. Some are a poly-cotton blend. Some solids (which are good for spares because they go with a few different rooms) and some in really lovely patterns.

I don't look for sets -- I don't need matching shams or bedskirts since they're just folded at the end of the bed, and just for the cold months at that.

They are so much easier to launder that I'm thinking of switching out the comforters for lighter-weight duvets and using duvet covers on those too. It's a big pain in the butt to dry the big comforters, especially in the winter when I can't line-dry.

This comment (67595) was in reply to comment 67589 on Sun, 03/21/2010 - 3:54pm

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Morticia

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On everything but the king bed they're a snap. But that king duvet- oy! I should tie the duvet inside the cover so it stays put. It's always crooked. Plus, the duvet itself is about 6" shorter than the cover.

This comment (67592) was in reply to comment 67589 on Sun, 03/21/2010 - 3:35pm

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muirford

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happyjacks wrote:

They are so much easier to launder

Most European hotels go that way - just a fitted sheet with an appropriate-weight duvet and cover on the top - no top sheet or blanket. Wash the cover and fitted sheet and you're all set. I think some fancy hotels here are also doing that, but I can't recall which brand.

This comment (67597) was in reply to comment 67592 on Sun, 03/21/2010 - 3:56pm

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happyjacks

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muirford wrote:

Most European hotels go that way - just a fitted sheet with an appropriate-weight duvet and cover on the top - no top sheet or blanket.

That's how we have our own bed. We find a top sheet uncomfortable, twisty-clingy. Our european and asian guests sometimes remove the top sheet or, more often, sleep on top of the top sheet rather than under it.

But I think I'd keep the top sheet, even after switching to duvets, for the north american guests who are accustomed to having it.

This comment (67596) was in reply to comment 67592 on Sun, 03/21/2010 - 3:58pm

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Morticia

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The Hilton for one. I find it a very sloppy look, tho. The bed looks awful in photos. Unmade almost. (Because they have nothing else on the bed. With the drape at the bottom of the bed, it looks different.)

This comment (67588) was in reply to comment 67584 on Sun, 03/21/2010 - 3:28pm

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Innkeeper To Go

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Overstock usually has great duvet covers. There's almost always something good on sale.

This comment (67599) was in reply to comment 67588 on Sun, 03/21/2010 - 3:57pm

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Morticia

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That's where I got most of them. One bunch from the 'Hotel' collection were really good. Zip closures.

The last set I got were awful. Some really 'crunchy' fabric that stains awfully.

This might be a good time to look again.

This comment (67483) was in reply to comment 67479 on Sat, 03/20/2010 - 1:00pm

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ginocat

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I haven't encountered too many slippery ones. I generally stay at the Sheraton hotels. They had non-slippy ones in Bahrain and Vancouver. I don't put my bags on beds anyway but I think if the cover was large enough it would work even if it were slippery but we know that guests are not always smart and especially not careful of things that they do not own.

This comment (67484) was in reply to comment 67483 on Sat, 03/20/2010 - 1:05pm

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Innkeeper To Go

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ginocat wrote:

we know that guests are not always smart and especially not careful of things that they do not own.

No truer words were ever spoken.

This comment (67247) was in reply to the Original Topic on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 11:59am

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Morticia

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Wendy's comment made me think...someone posted a 'blanket' sort of thing you put on the beds expecially FOR throwing your suitcase on. I can't find it now but there is such a thing.

This comment (67282) was in reply to comment 67247 on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 6:29pm

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Samster

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It was either JBJ or Joey Bloggs that posted that. They use them on cruise ships.

This comment (67270) was in reply to comment 67247 on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 4:14pm

#19 TOP

copperhead

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I can't find it either but the discussion included use by cruise lines that place covers for the end of the bed on arrival & night before departure for luggage. The ones we had on the last cruise we took were made of heavy duty vinyl and covered the bottom 1/3 of the bed.

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This comment (67237) was in reply to the Original Topic on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 10:52am

#20 TOP

ginocat

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I recently purchased new luggage and it doesn't work on a luggage rack. Clamshell bags don't fit or open properly. As a BB person I don't put bags on beds but if there's not enough room on the floor I might not have a choice. I didn't think of this when I bought the luggage and I actually don't like them now. Oh well, I will use until they wear out I guess.

This comment (67232) was in reply to the Original Topic on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 10:07am

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Joey Bloggs

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I had a guest tell me yesterday we should have an elevator/lift for guest luggage as the man was carrying one small black overnight bag. DOH!

Are we to the point we cannot even carry a bag up one flight of stairs? Do I look like Popeye who just ate his spinach!

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This comment (67227) was in reply to the Original Topic on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 9:53am

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copperhead

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Just as with the common cold, there is no cure. We have even pointed to the luggage racks and said - 'you can place your luggage right there", that works sometimes.

This comment (67226) was in reply to the Original Topic on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 9:55am

#23 TOP

Samster

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We have 2 luggage racks per room and did carry the guest's bags and put them on the racks. I have also been known to move luggage from beds to the racks when we did evening turndown service. Message received. The worst offenders about putting luggage on the beds and furniture were/are FRIENDS! What's up with that?

You can get safety glass cut to fit any horizontal surface that you want protected. It did save damage to some of our furniture.

This comment (67205) was in reply to the Original Topic on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 7:42am

#24 TOP

Morticia

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The only way we've found that works for the luggage is to carry the bags yourself and put them on the luggage racks. Now, if you test the racks out and find they are wobbly, guests won't use them at all.

I've seen guests throw soaking wet suitcases on the bed and you would think they might realize that EVERY guest has done that and that they are now going to sleep under that coverlet, but they don't care.

Cany you cover the desk with a thick sheet of glass to keep it from being scratched (and hope it doesn't get broken?)

We've been over the towel situation here a million times and the person who successfully gets guests to use the proper wipes for the proper job will make a fortune selling the idea to other innkeepers!

This comment (67214) was in reply to comment 67205 on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 8:52am

#25 TOP

catlady

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Can you cover the desk with a thick sheet of glass to keep it from being scratched

You can get plexiglass cut to size at Lowes or Home Depot. That will be cheaper than glass. I have it on my desk and printer stand and yes it gets scratched up...but at least my desk is protected and that is the point.

This comment (67195) was in reply to the Original Topic on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 4:58am

#26 TOP

Mary at Bridgew...

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Sorry about your problem....but guest (we also when on vac.) are on vacation and rush into the room and plop down all and chill out there. I have luggage racks in both suites but they are not used also,instead they use the window seats(for luggage). When they want to use the window seat the luggage ends up on the floor.End of the bed benches are great for luggage, one king bed(of 3) here has one...Mary in Bridgewater

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Mary in Virginia

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